Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer.

Explanation

Slaves and servants were ill-treated owing to the following reasons:-
(a) Most of them were prisoners of war.
(b) Some belonged to the lowest social order, specifically Shudras.
(c) The concept of human rights was virtually non-existent during that period.
Their condition would have improved after the order of Emperor because:-
(a) No one would dare defy the supreme order of the emperor himself.
(b) Those who would disobey the emperor would be severely punished by his officials.
(c) The Emperor was the supreme commander of the Mauryan Empire. Thus his word was law and had to be obeyed to the fullest extent.